windows rthttp://www.pcper.com
PC Perspectivehttp://www.pcper.com/images/podcast-logo-600x600.pngenWindows Apps Still Smell Like Windows RThttp://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Windows-Apps-Still-Smell-Windows-RT
<p>Even though I am really liking the Windows 10 operating system from a technical standpoint, I did not mind Windows 8.x, as software, either. My concern was its promotion of the Windows Store for the exact same reasons that I dislike the iOS App Store. Simply put, for your application to even exist, Microsoft (or Apple) needs to certify you as a developer, which they can revoke at any time, and they need to green light your creations.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/General-Tech/Windows-Apps-Still-Smell-Windows-RT" class="inline-image-link" title="View: windows-10.png"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2015-03-25/windows-10.png" alt="windows-10.png" title="windows-10.png" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="314" /></a></div></p>
<p>This has a few benefits, especially for Microsoft. First and foremost, it gives them a killswitch for malicious software and their developers. Second, it gives them as much control over the platform as they want. If devices start flowing away from x86 to other instruction sets, like we <i>almost</i><span style="font-style: normal"> saw a few years ago, then Windows can pick up and go with much less friction than the corner they painted themselves into with Win32.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-style: normal">This also means that developers need to play ball, even for terms that Microsoft is forced to apply because of pressure for specific governments. LGBT groups should be particularly concerned as other platforms are already banning apps that are designed for their members. Others could be concerned about encryption </span><span style="font-style: normal">and adult art, even in Western nations. If Microsoft, or someone with authority over them, doesn&#39;t want your content to exist: it&#39;s gone (unless it can run in a web browser).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-style: normal">On the plus side, I don&#39;t see the rule where third-party browser engines are banned anymore. When Windows 8 launched, all browsers needed to be little more than a reskin of Internet Explorer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-style: normal">Beyond censorship, if Microsoft does not offer a side-loading mechanism for consumers, you </span><span style="font-style: normal">also might need to give Microsoft a cut of your sales. You don&#39;t even seem to be able to give your app to specific people. If you want to propose to your significant other via a clever app, there does not seem to be a method to share it outside of the Windows Store unless you set up their device as a Window developer ahead of time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-style: normal">Why do I say all this today? Because <a href="https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/2310/universal-apps-will-be-branded-as-windows-apps">Microsoft has branded Universal Apps as Windows apps</a>, and their strategy seems to be completely unchanged in these key areas. What kept me from updating to Windows 8 was not its user interface. It was the same thing that brought me to develop in Web technologies and volunteer for Mozilla.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-style: normal">It was the developer certification and lack of side-loading for modern apps.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-style: normal">I get it. Microsoft is tired of being bullied with crap about how it is insecure and a pain for the general public. At the very least, they need a way for users to opt out, though. What they are doing with Windows 10 is very nice, and I would like to see it as my main operating system, but I need to prioritize alternative platforms if this one is heading in a very dark direction.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-style: normal">Win32 might be a legacy API, but the ability to write what I want should not be.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Windows-Apps-Still-Smell-Windows-RT" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Windows-Apps-Still-Smell-Windows-RT#commentsGeneral Techmicrosoftwindowswindows 10windows rtwinRTWed, 25 Mar 2015 22:23:42 +0000Scott Michaud62648 at http://www.pcper.com(WinSupersite) Surface 2 Reviewedhttp://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/WinSupersite-Surface-2-Reviewed
<p>The Surface 2 is what happened to the Surface RT. Microsoft decided that &quot;RT&quot; has no place on this product except, of course, its software (&quot;Windows RT&quot;) because they painted themselves into a corner on that one. The message is something like, &quot;It&#39;s Windows RT 8.1 but not Windows 8.1; in fact, you cannot run that software on it&quot;. I expect, and you probably know I have voiced, that this all is a moot point in the semi-near future (<a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone">and that sucks</a>).</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yQYocZUhC5U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><em>Microsoft&#39;s &quot;Official&quot; Surface 2 overviews.</em></p>
<p>Paul Thurrott down at his Supersite for Windows <a href="http://winsupersite.com/mobile-devices/surface-2-review">reviewed Surface 2 in terms of the original</a> Surface RT. The inclusion of Tegra 4 was a major plus for him yielding &quot;night and day&quot; improvement over the previous Tegra 3. In fact, he thinks that everything is at least as good as the original. There is not a single point on his rubric where the Surface RT beats its successor.</p>
<p>Of course there is a single section where the Surface 2 lacks (it is shared with the Surface RT and I think you can guess what it is). The ecosystem, apps for Windows RT, is the platform&#39;s &quot;Achilles Heel&quot;. It is better than it once was, with the inclusion of apps like Facebook, but glaring omissions will drive people away. He makes this point almost in passing but I, of course, believe this is a key issue.</p>
<p class="rteindent1"><em>It is absolutely lacking in key apps, and you will most likely never see such crucial solutions as full Photoshop, iTunes, or Google Chrome on this platform. But if we&#39;re being honest with ourselves here, as we must, these apps are, for better or worse, important. (The addition of Chrome alone would be a huge win for both Windows RT and Surface 2.)</em></p>
<p>I agree that this is the problem with the Windows RT platform and, in Google Chrome&#39;s case, the blame belongs to no-one but Microsoft. They will explicitly deny any web browser unless it is a reskin of Internet Explorer (using the &quot;Trident&quot; rendering system and their Javascript engine). You will not see full Firefox or full Google Chrome because Gecko, Servo, Webkit, and Blink are not allowed to be installed on end-user machines.</p>
<p style="font-style: normal">You are paying Microsoft to not let you install third party browsers. <strong>Literally</strong>.</p>
<p style="font-style: normal">Not only does this limit its usefulness but it also reduces the pressure to continue innovation. Why add developer features to Internet Explorer when you can control their use with Windows Store? Sure, Internet Explorer has been on a great trajectory since IE9. I would say that versions 10 and especially 11 could be considered &quot;top 3&quot; contenders as app platforms.</p>
<p class="rteindent1" style="font-style: normal"><em>The other alternative is the web, and this is where Internet Explorer 11 plays such a crucial role. While many tier-one online services&mdash;Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Cloud Player and Prime Video, and so on&mdash;are lacking native Windows RT aps, the web interfaces (should) work fine, and IE 11 is evolving into a full-featured web app platform that should present a reasonable compromise for those users.</em></p>
<p style="font-style: normal">Only if Microsoft continues their effort. No-one else is allowed to.</p>
<p style="font-style: normal">Now that I expanded that point, be sure <a href="http://winsupersite.com/mobile-devices/surface-2-review">to check out the rest of Paul Thurrott&#39;s review</a>. He broke his review down into sections, big and small, and stuck his opinion wherever he could. Also check out his <a href="http://winsupersite.com/mobile-devices/nokia-lumia-2520-preview">preview of the Nokia Lumia 2520</a> to see whether that (if either device) is worth waiting for.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/WinSupersite-Surface-2-Reviewed" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/WinSupersite-Surface-2-Reviewed#commentsGeneral TechSystemsMobileSurface 2windows rtFri, 01 Nov 2013 20:49:40 +0000Scott Michaud58802 at http://www.pcper.comMicrosoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard and Mousehttp://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Microsoft-Sculpt-Ergonomic-Keyboard-and-Mouse
<p>I would normally begin a product announcement with some introduction but, this time, a quote from <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-debuts-a-new-windows-8-friendly-keyboard-mouse-7000019334/">Mary Jo Foley seems a better fit</a>:</p>
<p class="rteindent1"><em>These new peripherals work with Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows RT, though only &quot;basic functionality&quot; is provided when used with Windows RT.</em></p>
<p>Problems with Windows RT, it is now obvious, <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Surface-RT-Does-Not-Have-Ethernet-Oh-wait-No-Oh-Wait">go beyond Ethernet dongles</a> and I would be shocked if Microsoft Hardware are the only ones suffering. We have already heard <a href="http://plugable.com/">Plugable</a>, an adapter and peripherals company, <a href="http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfwinrt-surfnetwork/how-i-connected-the-surface-rt-to-wired-ethernet/67e195d9-ba9d-4649-96e0-6d2e0ededd18">complain about Microsoft and their demand</a> for Plugable to pull Surface RT drivers from their website. I cannot see this being a few localized issues.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/General-Tech/Microsoft-Sculpt-Ergonomic-Keyboard-and-Mouse" class="inline-image-link" title="View: microsoft_kbmnum_desktop_hero.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2013-08-14/microsoft_kbmnum_desktop_hero.jpg" alt="microsoft_kbmnum_desktop_hero.jpg" title="microsoft_kbmnum_desktop_hero.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="255" /></a></div></p>
<p>These are the problems you will experience with a platform where the owner has complete control. Imagine how bad Windows RT will be if Microsoft slips behind, again, in Internet Explorer development; the only browsers allowed must be Internet Explorer reskins. But I digress.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/sculpt-ergonomic-desktop/L5V-00001">The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop is a mouse, keyboard, and number pad</a> with a unique appearance. Non-uniform keys pushing upward to a split should conform to the hand of a typical home row typist. WASD gamers might as well stop reading by this point. Microsoft is not known for mechanical switches so I would expect this keyboard to be typical membrane-based activation.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/General-Tech/Microsoft-Sculpt-Ergonomic-Keyboard-and-Mouse" class="inline-image-link" title="View: microsoft_kbmnum_side.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2013-08-14/microsoft_kbmnum_side.jpg" alt="microsoft_kbmnum_side.jpg" title="microsoft_kbmnum_side.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="332" /></a></div></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><em>Side-on shows off the depth better.</em></p>
<p>That said, <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/General-Tech/Corsair-K60-and-K90-Mechanical-Keyboard-Review/Fast-Input-and-other-Electrical-">most Microsoft peripherals I have used</a> tends to keep up with mechanical in terms of durability and performance... except wired Xbox headsets. Those little turds snap within a matter of hours.</p>
<p>The mouse, on the other hand (literally), does not seem to include extra mouse buttons except for a dedicated Windows button. If you have not figured it out by now: gamers are not the target audience. It seems fairly standard otherwise, from a feature standpoint, although comfort and durability are the big deciding factors for many users which we are not in a position to give an honest opinion on.</p>
<p>Together, the devices are available within the week and retail for $129.95. The keyboard, separately, will be available in September for $80.95; the mouse, separately, will be available for $59.95. High price, but it might just be worth it for dedicated typists.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Microsoft-Sculpt-Ergonomic-Keyboard-and-Mouse" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Microsoft-Sculpt-Ergonomic-Keyboard-and-Mouse#commentsGeneral TechCases and Coolingkeyboardmicrosoftmousewindows rtThu, 15 Aug 2013 00:46:14 +0000Scott Michaud58166 at http://www.pcper.comSurface Pro Has Ethernet... Surface RT Does Not.http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Surface-Pro-Has-Ethernet-Surface-RT-Does-Not
<p>It is a good thing that Windows RT is not always online, because you would be pretty screwed if you did not have access to a wireless network. To compensate for a lack of ethernet, users can typically plug in a USB to wired internet dongle; this is even possible with consoles such as the Wii. Microsoft makes one such accessory for their line of Surface tablets.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.276582800">But just the Pro ones</a>.</p>
<p align="CENTER"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/General-Tech/Surface-Pro-Has-Ethernet-Surface-RT-Does-Not" class="inline-image-link" title="View: wii-lan.png"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2013-07-06/wii-lan.png" alt="wii-lan.png" title="wii-lan.png" class="pcper-inline" width="446" height="164" /></a></div></p>
<p align="CENTER"><i>Wow, if only my PC was <a href="http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=117712&amp;currency=USD&amp;catalogId=10001&amp;tranId=0&amp;lastAction=setCurr&amp;storeId=10001&amp;languageId=-1&amp;categoryId=62707&amp;ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference">as open as my console</a>...</i></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="font-style: normal"><a href="http://winsupersite.com/windows-rt/surface-rt-users-no-ethernet-you">Paul Thurrott even tried a handful of third-party adapters to similar, depressing, results</a> on both Windows </span><span style="font-style: normal">RT</span><span style="font-style: normal"> RTM</span><span style="font-style: normal">.</span><span style="font-style: normal"> While the ability to attach your device to a wired high-speed internet </span><span style="font-style: normal">jack is niche nowadays, mostly for</span><span style="font-style: normal"> users of</span><span style="font-style: normal"> HD video conferencing and </span><span style="font-style: normal">certain hotels, it highlights the gigantic problem with Windows RT and other consumer tablet OSes: there will be some things you wish that your device did that it simply will not be able to do.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WR702N-Wireless-Repeater-150Mpbs/dp/B007PTCFFW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1373095425&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=ethernet+to+wifi"><span style="font-style: normal">I guess pack a </span><span style="font-style: normal">travel router</span></a><span style="font-style: normal">?</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Surface-Pro-Has-Ethernet-Surface-RT-Does-Not" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Surface-Pro-Has-Ethernet-Surface-RT-Does-Not#commentsGeneral TechNetworkingMobilereverse-consolitisSurface RTwindows rtSat, 06 Jul 2013 07:31:54 +0000Scott Michaud57833 at http://www.pcper.comCEO Jen-Hsun Huang Sells Windows RT... A Little Bit.http://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/CEO-Jen-Hsun-Huang-Sells-Windows-RT-Little-Bit
<p>NVIDIA develops processors, but without an x86 license they are only able to power ARM-based operating systems. When it comes to Windows, that means Windows Phone or Windows RT. The latter segment of the market has disappointing sales according to multiple OEMs, which Microsoft blames them for, but the jolly green GPU company is not crying doomsday.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Editorial/CEO-Jen-Hsun-Huang-Sells-Windows-RT-Little-Bit" class="inline-image-link" title="View: surface-cover.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2013-03-20/surface-cover.jpg" alt="surface-cover.jpg" title="surface-cover.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="550" height="358" /></a></div></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><em>NVIDIA just skimming the Surface RT, they hope.</em></p>
<p style="font-style: normal"><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/19/4124782/nvidia-ceo-windows-rt-disappointing-microsoft-can-get-it-right?utm_source=pulsenews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheTechBlock+%28The+Tech+Block%29">As reported by The Verge</a>, NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang was optimistic that Microsoft would eventually let Windows RT blossom. He noted how Microsoft very often &quot;gets it right&quot; at some point when they push an initiative. And it is true, Microsoft has a history of turning around perceived disasters across a variety of devices.</p>
<p style="font-style: normal">They also have a history of, as they call it, &quot;knifing the baby.&quot;</p>
<p style="font-style: normal">I think there is a very real fear for some that Microsoft could consider Intel&#39;s latest offerings as good enough to stop pursuing ARM. Of course, the more the pursue ARM, the more their business model will rely upon the-interface-formerly-known-as-Metro and likely all of its certification politics. As such, I think it is safe to say that I am watching the industry teeter on a fence with a bear on one side and a pack of rabid dogs on the other. On the one hand, Microsoft jumping back to Intel would allow them to perpetuate the desktop and all of the openness it provides. On the other hand, even if they stick with Intel they likely will just kill the desktop anyway, for the sake of user confusion and the security benefits of cert. We might just have less processor manufacturers when they do that.</p>
<p style="font-style: normal">So it could be that NVIDIA is confident that Microsoft will push Windows RT, or it could be that NVIDIA is pushing Microsoft to continue to develop Windows RT. Frankly, I do not know which would be better... or more accurately, worse.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/CEO-Jen-Hsun-Huang-Sells-Windows-RT-Little-Bit" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/CEO-Jen-Hsun-Huang-Sells-Windows-RT-Little-Bit#commentsEditorialGeneral TechProcessorsShows and ExposGTC 2013nvidiawindows rtWed, 20 Mar 2013 22:26:05 +0000Scott Michaud56768 at http://www.pcper.comRT Jailbreak Tool Allows Third Party Desktop Apps To Run On Windows RThttp://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/RT-Jailbreak-Tool-Allows-Third-Party-Desktop-Apps-Run-Windows-RT
<p>One of the downsides to Microsoft&rsquo;s ARM-powered Windows RT operating system is the lack of desktop applications. While Windows RT devices to retain the traditional Windows desktop, only Microsoft applications that come pre-packaged with Windows are allowed to run. Instead, Microsoft wants users to <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone">stick to Modern UI applications and the Windows Store</a> to get new apps. (Granted, the ARM hardware powering these devices necessitates porting x86 desktop applications in order to run in the first place, but Windows RT locks out even recompiled apps).</p>
<p>Enthusiasts are working on changing that, however. A XDA Developers forum member known as Netham45 recently released a tool that allows users to run unsigned desktop applications on Windows RT. The new RT Jailbreak tool is a batch file that automates a hack discovered by another hacker known as clrokr.</p>
<p>The hack is currently only temporary, and needs to be redone after every computer restart. It does, however, allow Windows RT to run unsigned code on the desktop. After downloading the batch file, you run the runExploit.bat and follow the prompts. After it completes, you users can run recompiled desktop apps such as PuTTY, 7-zip, TightVNC, DOSBox, Quake 2, <a href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2092348">and more</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><a href="/files/news/2012-10-10/Ideapad-Yoga-11_05-575x515.jpg"><img alt="" src="/files/news/2012-10-10/Ideapad-Yoga-11_05-575x515.jpg" style="width: 575px; height: 515px;" /></a></p>
<p>While it is not a permaent solution, it is a step in the right direction, and makes ARM-powered Windows RT devices a lot more interesting and useful to power users. For more information on the RT Jailbreak hack, and to grab the batch file to unlock your WinRT tablet, check out this <a href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2092158">forum thread on the XDA Developers website</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/RT-Jailbreak-Tool-Allows-Third-Party-Desktop-Apps-Run-Windows-RT" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/RT-Jailbreak-Tool-Allows-Third-Party-Desktop-Apps-Run-Windows-RT#commentsGeneral Techarmmicrosoftwindows rtTue, 15 Jan 2013 14:55:32 +0000Tim Verry56315 at http://www.pcper.comCES 2013: Tegra 4, the Vision of Windows RT?http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/CES-2013-Tegra-4-Vision-Windows-RT
<p>It is the day after the NVIDIA keynote and <a href="http://nvidianews.nvidia.com/Releases/NVIDIA-Introduces-World-s-Fastest-Mobile-Processor-8ed.aspx">the Tegra 4 floodgates are open</a>. Sure, the rumors were fairly accurate, but I guess speculation waits for a solid basis to be believable.</p>
<p>The Tegra 4 marries 72 of the expected GPU cores with four&hellip; &ldquo;plus one&rdquo; as the bonus core is present although 4+1 branding does not seem to be&hellip; ARM Cortex-A15 cores. This push to an A15-based design provides a significant performance increase over Tegra 3. Another interesting feature is the ability to transmit 4K video should you have a suitable source or the rendered application can support 4K at a suitable framerate. You can then add in Icera&rsquo;s LTE modem which is interesting in its own right to see a compelling product.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/General-Tech/CES-2013-Tegra-4-Vision-Windows-RT" class="inline-image-link" title="View: tegra4-super-processors-hover.png"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2013-01-07/tegra4-super-processors-hover.png" alt="tegra4-super-processors-hover.png" title="tegra4-super-processors-hover.png" class="pcper-inline" width="307" height="276" /></a></div></p>
<p>Jen-Hsun spent about as much time justifying the need for speed as he did hyping its performance. Photographers, particularly those who wish to dabble with HDR, are able to use the Tegra 4 to vastly increase the speed of image processing at the time of taking the shot. Tonal mapping for an HDR image will take just 200ms of processing which allows HDR to be used along with burst mode and a flash.</p>
<p>Paul Thurrott <a href="http://winsupersite.com/windows-rt/what-will-tegra-4-mean-windows-rt">over at the Supersite for Windows</a> ponders whether this was Microsoft&rsquo;s vision for Windows RT. He wonders whether Microsoft will try to take a mulligan on the first generation similar to Windows Phone 7-based devices led us to Windows Phone 8. At the same point, the weight which the Surface was designed to bare is pretty immense if it was just designed to buckle to Tegra 4. I would not put it past Microsoft although the Surface does not strike me as a product designed to have a doughy half-baked middle -- despite what actually shipped.</p>
<p>PC World <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2023835/nvidia-unveils-tegra-4-processor-first-quadcore-cortexa15-chip.html">also notes how Qualcomm</a> continues to improve their products and have just recently transitioned to a 28nm process for the Snapdragon S4. Qualcomm is a giant and even then there is also Samsung to contend with in the ARM space -- then you consider x86 brings at least Intel to the game with its massive advantage in legacy software that are usually not abstracted by a platform-independent runtime layer.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><a href="http://bs.serving-sys.com/BurstingPipe/adServer.bs?cn=tf&amp;c=20&amp;mc=click&amp;pli=5885206&amp;PluID=0&amp;ord=[timestamp]" target="_blank"><img alt="Coverage of CES 2013 is brought to you by AMD!" src="/files/fixed/ads/ces2013_sponsor.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 90px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a><img src="http://bs.serving-sys.com/BurstingPipe/adServer.bs?cn=tf&amp;c=19&amp;mc=imp&amp;pli=5885206&amp;PluID=0&amp;ord=[timestamp]&amp;rtu=-1" /></p>
<p align="center"><em>PC Perspective&#39;s CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by </em><em><a href="http://bs.serving-sys.com/BurstingPipe/adServer.bs?cn=tf&amp;c=20&amp;mc=click&amp;pli=5885206&amp;PluID=0&amp;ord=[timestamp]" target="_Blank">AMD</a>.</em></p>
<p align="center"><em>Follow all of our coverage of the show at </em><a href="http://pcper.com/ces"><em>http://pcper.com/ces</em></a><em>!</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/CES-2013-Tegra-4-Vision-Windows-RT" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/CES-2013-Tegra-4-Vision-Windows-RT#commentsGeneral TechGraphics CardsMobileShows and ExposCESces 2013nvidiawindows rtMon, 07 Jan 2013 17:42:14 +0000Scott Michaud56233 at http://www.pcper.comBreaking News: Steven Sinofsky Leaves Microsoft Immediatelyhttp://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/Breaking-News-Steven-Sinofsky-Leaves-Microsoft-Immediately
<p>Our regular viewers know that <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone">I am not too fond of</a> Microsoft&rsquo;s recent vision; I will get that out of the way right at the start. I am a major proponent of open platforms for uncensored art with perpetual support and Windows 8 shows all the signs of Microsoft turning its back on that ideology.</p>
<p>And Steven Sinofsky, the one who allegedly came up with that vision, is no longer with Microsoft: effective immediately.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Editorial/Breaking-News-Steven-Sinofsky-Leaves-Microsoft-Immediately" class="inline-image-link" title="View: surface-cover.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-11-12/surface-cover.jpg" alt="surface-cover.jpg" title="surface-cover.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="550" height="358" /></a></div></p>
<p>Not much in the line of reasoning is known about why Steven Sinofsky parted ways with his long-term career as head of Windows division. He had a clear and concise vision for his products and it was evident both in Windows 7 and in Windows RT.</p>
<p>Rumors exist that his fellow executives were not on pleasant terms with him. <a href="http://allthingsd.com/20121112/breaking-windows-head-steven-sinofsky-to-leave-microsoft/">All Things D claims</a> to have sources which suggest that his colleagues were unhappy with his conduct in terms of collaboration.</p>
<p>But that is all hearsay.</p>
<p>What it means for Microsoft is that the face that set sail is no longer at the helm. Microsoft could revert back to their twitchy attempts to appease everyone and abandon their vision. On the other hand it is entirely possible that the company could continue off on the last bearing set by Sinofsky.</p>
<p>No-one knows, but I stand behind my previous assertions that the PC industry will get messy in the next few years as things boil over at Microsoft.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/Breaking-News-Steven-Sinofsky-Leaves-Microsoft-Immediately" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/Breaking-News-Steven-Sinofsky-Leaves-Microsoft-Immediately#commentsEditorialGeneral TechSystemsMobilemicrosoftwindows 8windows rtTue, 13 Nov 2012 03:02:25 +0000Scott Michaud55829 at http://www.pcper.comNEC Launches LaVie Y Windows RT Tablet in Japanhttp://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/NEC-Launches-LaVie-Y-Windows-RT-Tablet-Japan
<p>NEC, a Japanese IT services and products company, is launching a convertible laptop similar to the Yoga 11 from Lenovo that we covered previously. The NEC LaVie Y is an 11&rdquo; laptop that incorporates Lenovo&rsquo;s 360&rdquo; hinge to allow it to transform into slat mode when folded down or operate as a traditional laptop. The device measures 298 x 204 x 15.6 mm when it the screen is folded down over the keyboard. Further, it weighs in at 1.24 kg, or approximately 2.7 pounds.</p>
<p>Similarly to the <a href="http://pcper.com/news/Mobile/Lenovo-Launches-Yoga-11-Windows-RT-Tablet">Lenovo Yoga 11</a>, the LaVie Y will run Microsoft&rsquo;s Windows RT operating system. The convertible notebook will be powered by an Nvidia Tegra 3 system on a chip (SoC) along with 2GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. NEC has reportedly packed a decent-sized batttery as well, as the company is claiming up to 8 hours of use.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/NEC-Launches-LaVie-Y-Windows-RT-Tablet-Japan" class="inline-image-link" title="View: NEC Windows RT Tablet_LaVie Y.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-28/NEC%20Windows%20RT%20Tablet_LaVie%20Y.jpg" alt="NEC Windows RT Tablet_LaVie Y.jpg" title="NEC Windows RT Tablet_LaVie Y.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="414" /></a></div></p>
<p>Wireless connectivity options include 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. External I/O ports include USB 2.0, a 5-in-1 card reader, and HDMI output. Other specifications include an 11.6&rdquo; touchscreen display with a resolution of 1366x768, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a touchpad. A 1.3 megapixel webcam is nestled above the display as well. The device comes in a two-tone color scheme: black for the keyboard and display bezel, and a silver color for the hinge and bottom of the tablet.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/NEC-Launches-LaVie-Y-Windows-RT-Tablet-Japan" class="inline-image-link" title="View: NEC LaVie Y Convertible Windows RT tablet.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-28/NEC%20LaVie%20Y%20Convertible%20Windows%20RT%20tablet.jpg" alt="NEC LaVie Y Convertible Windows RT tablet.jpg" title="NEC LaVie Y Convertible Windows RT tablet.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="450" height="339" /></a></div></p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/19/nec-lavie-y-brings-lenovo-360-degree-ideapad-yoga-to-japan/">Engadget</a>, the LaVie Y will be available for purchase on November 22nd, and the US pricing would be close to $1,136 should you import it. Needless to say, many Americans will want to wait it out for the Lenovo Yoga 11 which should be cheaper in the United States. For readers in Japan however, this might be worth checking out if you are into the Yoga-like form factor!</p>
<p><strong>Read more about <a href="http://pcper.com/category/tags/windows-rt">Windows RT tablets</a> at PC Perspective</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/NEC-Launches-LaVie-Y-Windows-RT-Tablet-Japan" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/NEC-Launches-LaVie-Y-Windows-RT-Tablet-Japan#commentsMobileideapad yoganecnec lavie ytabletwindows rtSun, 28 Oct 2012 07:59:11 +0000Tim Verry55691 at http://www.pcper.comPodcast #224 - ASUS N66U Router, AMD FX 8350 and 6300 CPU, our Windows RT hands on, and more!http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Podcast-224-ASUS-N66U-Router-AMD-FX-8350-and-6300-CPU-our-Windows-RT-hands-and-mor
<p class="rteleft"><u><strong>PC Perspective Podcast #224 - 10/25/2012</strong></u></p>
<p>Join us this week as we talk about the ASUS N66U Router, AMD FX 8350 and 6300 CPU, our Windows RT hands on, and more!</p>
<p><nobr></nobr></p>
<p>You can subscribe to us through <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pc-perspective-podcast/id253635069">iTunes</a> and you can still access it directly through the RSS page <a href="http://pcper.com/rss/podcasts-mp3.rss">HERE</a>.</p>
<p>The URL for the podcast is:&nbsp;<a href="http://pcper.com/podcast" target="_blank">http://pcper.com/podcast</a> - Share with your friends!</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pc-perspective-podcast/id253635069">iTunes</a> - Subscribe to the podcast directly through the <span class="skimwords-link">iTunes</span> Store</li>
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<a href="http://pcper.com/rss/podcasts.rss">RSS</a> - Subscribe through your regular RSS reader</li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pcper-podcasts.s3.amazonaws.com/podcast224.mp3">MP3</a> - Direct download link to the MP3 file</li>
</ul>
<p class="rteleft"><strong>Hosts</strong>: Ryan Shrout, Jeremy Hellstrom, Josh Walrath, Allyn Malventano, and Linus Sebastian</p>
<p class="rteleft"><a href="http://msi.com/" target="_blank">This Podcast is brought to you by MSI</a><a href="http://msi.com/" target="_blank">!</a></p>
<p>Program length: 1:30:18</p>
<p><span class="c1" id="internal-source-marker_0.6411801318396707">Podcast topics of discussion:</span></p>
<ol class="c7" id="internal-source-marker_0.6614704543404274">
<li class="c2">
<span class="c1">0:00:50 Welcome our Guest: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/LinusTechTips"><strong>Linus Sebastian of Linus Tech Tips!</strong></a></span></li>
<li class="c2">
<span class="c1">Week in Reviews:</span>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c4">
<span class="c1">0:07:50</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/General-Tech/ASUS-RT-N66U-USB-N66-USB-N53-Router-and-Adapter-Roundup"><span class="c3">ASUS RT-N66U Router and Adapters Roundup</span></a></li>
<li class="c4">
<span class="c5">0:13:15</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/AMD-Never-Settle-1211-Beta-Driver-Performance-Testing"><span class="c3">AMD Never Settle 12.11 Driver Update</span></a>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c6">
<a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Graphics-Cards/AMD-Offers-Impressive-Never-Settle-Bundle-Radeon-GPUs"><span class="c3">The Never Settle Bundle is awesome too</span></a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="c4">
<span class="c5">0:25:50</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Processors/AMD-FX-8350-and-FX-6300-Processor-Review-Vishera-Breaks-Cover"><span class="c3">AMD FX-8350 and FX-6300 Vishera CPU Review</span></a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="c2">
<span class="c1">0:36:20 This podcast is brought to you by MSI</span></li>
<li class="c2">
<span class="c1">News items of interest:</span>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c4">
<span class="c5">0:37:15</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/quick-look-data-Apples-Fusion-Drive"><span class="c3">A quick look at the data on Apple&#39;s Fusion Drive</span></a></li>
<li class="c4">
<span class="c5">0:46:30</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/AMDs-revenue-down-10-workforce-down-15"><span class="c3">AMD work force cut coming?</span></a></li>
<li class="c4">
<span class="c5">0:52:10</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3"><span class="c3">ASUS VivoTab RT Released</span></a>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c6">
<span class="c5">Hands on time!</span></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="c4">
<span class="c5">1:07:45</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/ASUS-TAICHI-Perfect-Blend-Ultrabook-Tablet-Uppercase"><span class="c3">ASUS TAICHI as well - can this really become popular</span></a></li>
<li class="c4">
<span class="c5">1:08:45</span> <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Cases-and-Cooling/Corsair-Carbide-Series-200R-Chassis-Makes-PC-Building-Easy"><span class="c3">Corsair Carbide 200R Launches</span></a>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c6">
<a href="http://t.co/lIzVrZfs"><span class="c3">LinusTech Video on it</span></a></li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="c2">
<span class="c1">Closing:</span>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c4">
<span class="c1">1:06:15 Hardware / Software Pick of the Week</span>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c6">
<span class="c1">Ryan:</span> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833490006&amp;name=Network-Print-Servers"><span class="c8">Lantronix xPrintServer</span></a></li>
<li class="c6">
<span class="c1">Jeremy:</span> <a href="http://www.boeing.com/Features/2012/10/bds_champ_10_22_12.html"><span class="c8">Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project</span></a></li>
<li class="c6">
<span class="c1">Josh:</span> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131876"><span class="c8">Nice motherboard, now with new CPUS!</span></a></li>
<li class="c6">
<span class="c1">Allyn:</span> <a href="http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/"><span class="c8">Media Player Classic - Home Cinema</span></a></li>
<li class="c6">
<span class="c1">Linus:</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCoAcidhMN4"><span class="c8">Fractal Design Define R4</span></a></li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<ol class="c7">
<li class="c2">
<span class="c1">1-888-38-PCPER or</span> <span class="c8">podcast@pcper.com</span></li>
<li class="c2">
<a href="http://pcper.com/podcast"><span class="c8">http://pcper.com/podcast</span></a> <span class="c1"> </span></li>
<li class="c2">
<a href="http://twitter.com/ryanshrout"><span class="c9">http://twitter.com/ryanshrout</span></a> <span class="c1">and</span> <a href="http://twitter.com/pcper"><span class="c8">http://twitter.com/pcper</span></a></li>
<li class="c2">
<span class="c1">Closing/outro</span></li>
</ol>
<p class="c2"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=pcper"><strong><span class="c1">Be sure to subscribe to the PC Perspective YouTube channel!!</span></strong></a></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KUiZ7XdKsm0" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p></p><p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Podcast-224-ASUS-N66U-Router-AMD-FX-8350-and-6300-CPU-our-Windows-RT-hands-and-mor" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Podcast-224-ASUS-N66U-Router-AMD-FX-8350-and-6300-CPU-our-Windows-RT-hands-and-mor#commentsGeneral Techamdasusfx 6300fx 8350linusn668nvidiapodcasttegravisheravivotab rtwindows 8windows rtThu, 25 Oct 2012 18:26:15 +0000Ken Addison55682 at http://www.pcper.comThe Windows You Love is Gonehttp://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone
<p><strong><em>Update #1, 10/26/2012:</em></strong> <em>Apparently <a href="http://themissingbit.blogspot.ca/2012/10/windows-8-doesnt-want-your-app-try.html">it does not take long to see the first tremors of certification</a> woes. A Windows developer by the name of Jeffrey Harmon </em><em>allegedly wrestled with Microsoft certification support 6 times over 2 months because his app did not meet minimum standards. He was not given clear and specific reasons why -- apparently little more than copy/paste of the regulations he failed to achieve. Kind-of what to expect from a closed platform... right? Imagine if some nonsensical terms become mandated or other problems crop up?</em></p>
<p><em>Also, Microsoft has just said <a href="http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/10/microsoft-to-allow-mature-games-in-european-windows-8-store/">they will allow PEGI 18 games which would have received an ESRB M</a> rating. Of course their regulations can and will change further over time... the point is the difference between a store refusing to carry versus banishing from the whole platform even for limited sharing. The necessity of uproars, especially so early on and so frequently, should be red flags for censorship to come. Could be for artistically-intentioned nudity or sexual themes. Could even be not about sex, language, and violence at all.</em></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><em>***</em></p>
<p>Last month, I suggested that the transition to Windows RT <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Why-I-Still-Use-Windows">bares the same hurdles as transitioning</a> to Linux. Many obstacles&nbsp;blocking our path, like Adobe and PC gaming, are considering Linux; the rest have good reason to follow.</p>
<p>This month we receive Windows RT and Microsoft&rsquo;s attempt to shackle us to it: Windows 8.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone" class="inline-image-link" title="View: Windows95.png"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/review/2012-10-24/Windows95.png" alt="Windows95.png" title="Windows95.png" class="pcper-inline" width="550" height="110" /></a></div></p>
<p>To be clear: Microsoft has large incentives to banish the legacy of Windows. The way Windows 8 is structured reduces it to a benign tumorous growth atop Windows RT. The applications we love and the openness we adore are contained to an app.</p>
<p>I will explain how you should hate this -- after I explain why and support it with evidence.</p>
<p>Microsoft is currently in the rare state of sharp and aggressive focus to a vision. Do not misrepresent this as greed: it is not. Microsoft must face countless jokes about security and stability. Microsoft designed Windows with strong slants towards convenience over security.</p>
<p>That ideology faded early into the life of Windows XP. How Windows operates is fundamentally different. Windows machines are quite secure, architecturally. Con-artists are getting desperate. Recent attacks are almost exclusively based on fear and deception of the user. Common examples are fake anti-virus software or fraudulent call center phone calls. We all win when attackers get innovative: <em>survival of the fittest implies death of the weakest.</em></p>
<p><em><a href="http://pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone">Continue reading why we think the Windows you Love is gone...</a></em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/Windows-You-Love-Gone#commentsEditorialGeneral TechSystemsMobilelinuxwindows 8windows rtThu, 25 Oct 2012 09:55:00 +0000Scott Michaud55670 at http://www.pcper.comASUS VivoTab RT Tablet and Keyboard/Dock Released with Tegra 3http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3
<p>Let the onslaught of new Windows devices continue, this time with the announcement of the ASUS VivoTab RT, a Windows RT-based tablet powered by NVIDIA&#39;s Tegra 3 SoC.&nbsp; We have seen the VivoTab RT leaks and pictures for several months <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/ASUS-Vivo-Tab-Vivo-Tab-RT-and-Taichi-Tablet-Pricing-Leaked">including a price listing just last month</a>, all of which seem to have been spot on.&nbsp;</p>
<p><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3" class="inline-image-link" title="View: vivotab3.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-23/vivotab3.jpg" alt="vivotab3.jpg" title="vivotab3.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="278" /></a></div></p>
<p>One of the flagship Windows RT devices, the ASUS tablet utilizes an NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC running at up to 1.3 GHz in either dual or quad-core mode.&nbsp; You can see more background information on the processor itself <a href="http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/NVIDIA-Reveals-5th-CPU-Core-Upcoming-Kal-El-Tegra-SoC">in our story from September of last year when the product was first announced</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The tablet has a sleek design with a 8.3mm profile (0.32 in), 525g weight (1.15 lb) and 10.1-in Super IPS+ screen with a 1366x768 resolution behind scratch-resistant Corning Fit Glass.&nbsp; It will be available with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage and will start at $599 with an included keyboard dock.&nbsp;</p>
<p><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3" class="inline-image-link" title="View: vivotab2.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-23/vivotab2.jpg" alt="vivotab2.jpg" title="vivotab2.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="294" /></a></div></p>
<p>As we saw with ASUS Transformer series of tablets, the VivoTab RT will have an optional keyboard dock that includes a trackpad and nearly doubles the battery life of the machine.&nbsp; Below is the full spec sheet as provided by ASUS:</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3" class="inline-image-link" title="View: vivotabtable.gif"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-23/vivotabtable.gif" alt="vivotabtable.gif" title="vivotabtable.gif" class="pcper-inline" width="577" height="740" /></a></div></p>
<p>When docked, ASUS is claiming a total of 16 hours of usable battery life and with the inclusion of the Office Home and Student version of Microsoft Office 2013 RT, you should actually be able to use this tablet for content creation and business purposes - something we haven&#39;t been fond of claiming on Android or iOS based tablets.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3" class="inline-image-link" title="View: vivotab1.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-23/vivotab1.jpg" alt="vivotab1.jpg" title="vivotab1.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="294" /></a></div></p>
<p>If you are curious to learn more about the VivoTab RT we&#39;ll be doing a live streaming run through on the device on our <a href="http://pcper.com/live">PC Perspective Live! page</a> at 4pm EDT / 1pm PDT, so be sure to join us!!&nbsp;</p>
<p>Missed the live stream?&nbsp; Here is a replay so you can enjoy seeing our experiences for a solid hour of usage including SmartGlass!&nbsp; Also, make sure you pay attention to the first few minutes as we explain the pricing.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9lTbOqfYnN4" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/ASUS-VivoTab-RT-Tablet-and-KeyboardDock-Released-Tegra-3#commentsMobileasustegra 3vivotab rtwindows rtTue, 23 Oct 2012 18:54:26 +0000Ryan Shrout55668 at http://www.pcper.comLenovo Launches Yoga 11 Windows RT Tablethttp://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/Lenovo-Launches-Yoga-11-Windows-RT-Tablet
<p>At an event in New York earlier this week Lenovo <a href="http://blogs.nvidia.com/2012/10/nvidia-tegra-3-powers-lenovos-incredibly-versatile-yoga-11/">announced</a> a new Windows RT tablet called the Yoga 11. It will be joining the company&rsquo;s lineup alongside the larger x86-powered Yoga 13.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/Lenovo-Launches-Yoga-11-Windows-RT-Tablet" class="inline-image-link" title="View: Ideapad-Yoga-11_05-575x515.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-10/Ideapad-Yoga-11_05-575x515.jpg" alt="Ideapad-Yoga-11_05-575x515.jpg" title="Ideapad-Yoga-11_05-575x515.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="575" height="515" /></a></div></p>
<p>The Lenovo Yoga 11 follows in the footsteps of the Yoga 13 but steps down the hardware specifications. The 11.6&rdquo; tablet is 15.6mm thick and 2.8 pounds. On a simple level, the Yoga 11 is a notebook that doubles as a tablet thanks to the five point multitouch screen that can swivel 360 degrees to lay flat like a tablet.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/Lenovo-Launches-Yoga-11-Windows-RT-Tablet" class="inline-image-link" title="View: Ideapad-Yoga-11_08-575x469.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-10/Ideapad-Yoga-11_08-575x469.jpg" alt="Ideapad-Yoga-11_08-575x469.jpg" title="Ideapad-Yoga-11_08-575x469.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="575" height="469" /></a></div></p>
<p>The notebook will come pre-loaded with Microsoft&rsquo;s upcoming Windows RT operating system as well as Office 2013 RT. It is powered by a NVIDIA <a href="http://pcper.com/category/tags/tegra-3">Tegra 3</a> ARM System on a Chip (SoC) and 64GB of internal storage. What we don&rsquo;t know yet is the amount of RAM, radio support (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, et al) if any, and the specific display resolution and panel type. Lenovo has announced that the Yoga 11 will be able to get up to 13 hours of usage on a single charge.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/Lenovo-Launches-Yoga-11-Windows-RT-Tablet" class="inline-image-link" title="View: Ideapad-Yoga-11_09-575x424.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-10-10/Ideapad-Yoga-11_09-575x424.jpg" alt="Ideapad-Yoga-11_09-575x424.jpg" title="Ideapad-Yoga-11_09-575x424.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="575" height="424" /></a></div></p>
<p>The Yoga 11 is a traditional notebook at first glance, and it even includes a full Qwerty keyboard and trackpad. Where the Yoga differentiates itself is in the screen hinge. The hinge allows you to swing the display all the way around to lie flat against the bottom of the computer, which amounts to tablet mode, and every position in between. One use for this feature would be to show off presentation to a small group or prop it up on an airplane to watch a movie. It is essentially a convertible tablet without the center-mounted swivel hinge.</p>
<p>It certainly looks like an interesting device, and the Tegra 3 should provide enough GPU horsepower to allow you to watch HD videos with ease. Unfortunately, pricing and availability are still unknown, which makes this a hard product to place or predict the success of.</p>
<p><em>Read more about <a href="http://pcper.com/category/tags/windows-rt">Windows RT tablets</a> at PC Perspective.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/Lenovo-Launches-Yoga-11-Windows-RT-Tablet" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/Lenovo-Launches-Yoga-11-Windows-RT-Tablet#commentsMobileLenovomicrosoftnotebooknvidiatablettegra 3windows rtyoga 11Thu, 11 Oct 2012 02:26:53 +0000Tim Verry55556 at http://www.pcper.comASUS Vivo Tab, Vivo Tab RT, and Taichi Tablet Pricing Leakedhttp://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/ASUS-Vivo-Tab-Vivo-Tab-RT-and-Taichi-Tablet-Pricing-Leaked
<p>Earlier this month we <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/ASUS-Shows-Vivo-Windows-8-and-Windows-RT-Tablets-IFA-2012">detailed two ASUS tablets</a> that were on display at IFA 2012. The important specification that was unknown at the time was pricing, however. Specifically, pricing information has been leaked on not only the two ASUS Vivo tablets, but a third tablet that we reported on in June: the ASUS Taichi convertible tablet.</p>
<p>ZDNet claims to have gotten a hold of <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/asus-windows-8-tablet-pricing-comes-in-high-demand-likely-low-7000004378/?s_cid=e589">the final pricing</a> for the three tablets, by means of a leaked slide(s) that represent the company&#39;s holiday roadmap. The leaked slide can be seen below.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/General-Tech/ASUS-Vivo-Tab-Vivo-Tab-RT-and-Taichi-Tablet-Pricing-Leaked" class="inline-image-link" title="View: Asus Tablet Pricing.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-09-19/Asus%20Tablet%20Pricing.jpg" alt="Asus Tablet Pricing.jpg" title="Asus Tablet Pricing.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="403" /></a></div></p>
<p>The two upcoming Vivo-series tablets are the Vivo Tab and Vivo Tab RT, which will run the x86 and ARM versions of Windows 8 respectively.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><a href="/files/news/2012-06-04/asus810.JPG"><img alt="" src="/files/news/2012-06-04/asus810.JPG" style="width: 600px; height: 397px; " /></a></p>
<p>The Vivo Tab will run an Atom CPU, 2GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, front/rear cameras (8MP/2MP), and sport a 10.1&quot; Super IPS+ display (1366x768 resolution). It is rated at 8.7mm thick and weighing 675 grams. According to the leaked slide, the Vivo Tab will be priced at $799 for the base model, and the accompanying keyboard dock will cost an additional $199.</p>
<p>On the other hand, specifications for the Vivo Tab RT include a NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, 11.6&quot; Super IPS+ display (1366x768), 8MP/2MP front and rear camera. It weighs 520 grams and is 8.3mm thick. This tablet has a starting price of $599 for the tablet itself, and the keyboard dock costs $199 extra.</p>
<p>Note that this ARM-powered tablet will come with the preview/RTM version of <a href="http://pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Microsoft-Releases-Office-2013-Customer-Preview">Microsoft Office 2013</a> at launch (which I have been using since the Customer Preview came out, and generally like it). Once office goes gold, Windows RT tablets will receive a free update to the final version. However, with the Windows RT version, you do not have access to features like macro support in excel (which kind of defeats the purpose of using this a business machine, but at least it&#39;s &#39;free&#39;).</p>
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 600px; ">
<caption>
Comparison of ASUS&#39; Transformer-style tablets</caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
&nbsp;</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
ASUS Vivo Tab</td>
<td>
ASUS Vivo Tab RT</td>
<td>
ASUS Transformer Prime</td>
<td>
ASUS Transformer Infinity</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
Processor/SoC</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
Intel Atom</td>
<td>
NVIDIA Tegra 3</td>
<td>
NVIDIA Tegra 3</td>
<td>
NVIDIA Tegra 3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
RAM</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
2GB</td>
<td>
2GB</td>
<td>
1GB</td>
<td>
1GB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
Internal Memory</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
64GB</td>
<td>
32GB</td>
<td>
32GB</td>
<td>
64GB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
Display</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
10.1&quot; Super IPS+ @ 1366x768</td>
<td>
11.6&quot; Super IPS+ @ 1366x768</td>
<td>
10.1&quot; IPS @ 1280x800</td>
<td>
10.1&quot; Super IPS+ @ 1920x1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
Camera(s)</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
8MP rear, 2MP front</td>
<td>
8MP rear, 2MP front</td>
<td>
8MP rear, 1.2MP front</td>
<td>
8MP rear, 2MP front</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
Size</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
8.7mm thick</td>
<td>
8.3mm thick</td>
<td>
10.4&quot; x 7.1&quot; x .3&quot;</td>
<td>
10.4&quot; x 7.1&quot; x .3&quot; (8.5mm thick)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 2px; ">
Weight</td>
<td style="width: 151px; ">
675g</td>
<td>
520g</td>
<td>
589.67g</td>
<td>
598g</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><em>A comparison of the Vivo Tab and Vivo RT compared to ASUS&#39; Android-powered alternatives.</em></p>
<p>Further, the <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/ASUS-shows-TAICHI-convertible-notebook-and-tablet-dual-displays">ASUS Taichi is not only a tablet</a>, but one with dual screens that is actually billed as an ultrabook -- and with a (rumored) price to match! <strong>For $1299</strong>, you get an ultrabook with two 1920x1080 multi-touch displays on the front and bad &quot;lid&quot; of the laptop. Specifications include an Intel Ivy Bridge processor, 4GB of RAM, SSD, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, dual cameras, and USB 3.0 support. Even better, both displays on the Taichi can be used at the same time to share the computer with a friend sitting across from you (unclear how the software handles this though I don&#39;t think both users get individual desktops).</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><a href="/files/news/2012-06-04/taichi02.png"><img alt="" src="/files/news/2012-06-04/taichi02.png" style="width: 600px; height: 331px; " /></a></p>
<p>What that means is that if you want a Windows 8 tablet from ASUS with a keyboard dock, you are looking at a minimum of $798 for the ARM-powered Vivo Tab RT, $998 for the Vivo Tab, and $1299 for the ASUS Taichi. Now, the Taichi&#39;s pricing I can forgive, because it is marketed and positioned as an ultrabook. The two Vivo Tabs do seem overpriced for what you are getting once you factor in the additional cost fo the keyboard dock. If the dock was included in the $599 and $799 (base tablet) prices, I think those prices would be fair &ndash; but they do not. Even comparing to the company&#39;s Android tablets, it is difficult for me to justify the &#39;x86 and Microsoft taxes&#39; that are likely responsible for the increased cost. As an example, you can find the 32GB Transformer Prime and keyboard dock for a total of $616.94 on Amazon right now. Is the (approx.) additional $180 really worth it just to run Windows 8 &ndash; and the ARM version at that (so no traditional desktop apps). For many people, I think not and I think Microsoft and the many tablet OEMs that are going to try to push Windows 8 tablets/notebooks this holiday season are going to need to re-evaluate the market if they want these devices to sell well.</p>
<p><a href="http://pcper.com/files/news/2012-06-18/surface-kick.jpg"><img alt="Micrsoft's Surface tablet is expected to be around the $500 mark as well..." src="http://pcper.com/files/news/2012-06-18/surface-kick.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 150px; float: right; " /></a></p>
<p>After using Windows 8 RTM on my main desktop, I&#39;m not sold on metro but it&#39;s not terrible and it&#39;s actually a decent UI when navigating around with a touchscreen (I&#39;ve also tried it on a convertible tablet). I do think that Windows 8 tablets are a good thing, and if positioned at the right price, Microsoft and the OEMs could sell a lot of these just on the merits of being able to say that this computer/tablet/notebook/et al is running &#39;Microsoft&#39; and/or &#39;Windows&#39; on the box and displays (at retail) which consumers are familiar with and comfortable paying for (the brand name).</p>
<p>The crux of it is pricing though, because if there is a 10&quot; tablet for $800 next to a 10&quot; for $600, and the only discernable difference is what is on the screen (the OS, and especially since Win 8 isn&#39;t all that reminiscent of Windows&#39; desktop), I have to believe that the majority of consumers are going to go for the cheaper model (likely running Android).</p>
<p>[And that&#39;s not really touching on the $1000 Vivo Tab+dock that is running an Atom processor of all things... that is most definitely ultrabook territory and for that price you should be getting at least a Sandy Bridge CPU, and better chassis. If I was in that situation of choosing just between ASUS&#39; devices (with a touchscreen), I would probably just save up the extra cash for the Taichi and get a &#39;real&#39; ultrabook (internal specs-wise), or go for something like the Transformer Pad Infinity which wouldn&#39;t run Windows but would at least have a much better display and be a bit more portable.]</p>
<p><em>But what do you think? Are the rumored prices reasonable? Would you buy a Windows 8 tablet over an Android tablet even if the Microsoft-powered device is significantly more expensive?</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/ASUS-Vivo-Tab-Vivo-Tab-RT-and-Taichi-Tablet-Pricing-Leaked" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/ASUS-Vivo-Tab-Vivo-Tab-RT-and-Taichi-Tablet-Pricing-Leaked#commentsGeneral TechMobileasuspricingtablettaichivivo tabvivo tab rtwindows rtWed, 19 Sep 2012 11:30:00 +0000Tim Verry55360 at http://www.pcper.comIFA: Dell Unveils Two XPS Tablets, One All-In-One System Running Windows RT and Windows 8http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/IFA-Dell-Unveils-Two-XPS-Tablets-One-All-One-System-Running-Windows-RT-and-Windows-8
<p><em>The <a href="http://b2b.ifa-berlin.com/en/">IFA</a> 2012 (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) electronics show is in full swing today and will be a week-long event where we should see several new product announcements similar in form to CES and Computex. That means photos, videos, and hands-on time with lots of new and shiny hardware. Earlier this week, ASUS announced two new tablets, and now Dell is jumping into the fray with&nbsp;<strong>three new XPS computers running Windows 8</strong>!</em></p>
<p>Dell is set up with displays at this years IFA 2012 conference where it is showing off several new systems running Windows 8 and <a href="http://www.pcper.com/category/tags/windows-rt">Windows 8 RT</a>. The company is preparing offerings on all fronts with a tablet, ultrabook, and all-in-one desktop running Microsoft&#39;s upcoming operating system: the XPS 10 tablet, XPS Duo 12 Ultrabook, and the XPS One 27 All-In-One (AIO) PC respectively.</p>
<p>The <strong>Dell XPS 10</strong> is a new tablet that resembles the Asus Transformer due to its dock-able nature. The tablet will be powered by an ARM processor and will run the accompanying Windows RT version of Windows 8. The 10&quot; tablet has rounded corners along with a glossy black front and silver-colored trim around the bezel. The only physical button on the face of the device is the Windows Start button. It can be docked with a keyboard and trackpad combo to turn the tablet into a portable laptop as well.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/IFA-Dell-Unveils-Two-XPS-Tablets-One-All-One-System-Running-Windows-RT-and-Windows-8" class="inline-image-link" title="View: IFA - XPS 10.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-08-31/IFA%20-%20XPS%2010.jpg" alt="IFA - XPS 10.jpg" title="IFA - XPS 10.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="504" /></a></div></p>
<p>Alternatively, the XPS Duo 12 steps up the build quality and specifications and packs it into a convertible tablet. While it will need to be tested independently to determine how well it&#39;s built, the materials Dell is using are a step up from the XPS 10 as the Duo 12 is constructed using machined aluminum, carbon fiber, and the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Not too shabby for an ultraportable! Unfortunately, there are no specifications on the internal hardware, but you can expect it to be running an AMD or Intel-based x86-64 CPU as this convertible tablet is running Windows 8. On the outside, Dell has stated that the display will have a resolution of 1920x1080.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/IFA-Dell-Unveils-Two-XPS-Tablets-One-All-One-System-Running-Windows-RT-and-Windows-8" class="inline-image-link" title="View: XPS Duo 12 convertible Ultrabook with Windows 8.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-08-31/XPS%20Duo%2012%20convertible%20Ultrabook%20with%20Windows%208.jpg" alt="XPS Duo 12 convertible Ultrabook with Windows 8.jpg" title="XPS Duo 12 convertible Ultrabook with Windows 8.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="602" height="512" /></a></div></p>
<p>The company has gone an interesting direction to make the Duo 12 a convertible laptop. Instead of turning the laptop lid around a vertical axis like the Dell Latitude XT (yes, I&#39;m overdue for a laptop upgrade heh), the Duo 12 has a traditional laptop lid and horizontal hinge. Instead of swiveling the entire lid, the Duo 12 only flips around the display itself. It is not a completely new design, but it is relatively rare compared to the much more popular Transformer-style docks. Assuming it&#39;s solidly built, I think this design is actually superior than the company&#39;s other convertible offerings as the hinge should be much stronger and the display should be less wobbly when typing.</p>
<p class="rtecenter" style=""><div class = "center-article-image"><a href="/news/Mobile/IFA-Dell-Unveils-Two-XPS-Tablets-One-All-One-System-Running-Windows-RT-and-Windows-8" class="inline-image-link" title="View: XPS One 27 All-in-One desktop with Windows 8.jpg"><img src="/files/imagecache/article_max_width/news/2012-08-31/XPS%20One%2027%20All-in-One%20desktop%20with%20Windows%208.jpg" alt="XPS One 27 All-in-One desktop with Windows 8.jpg" title="XPS One 27 All-in-One desktop with Windows 8.jpg" class="pcper-inline" width="572" height="552" /></a></div></p>
<p>The XPS Duo 12 further features an integrated keyboard and trackpad along with at least two USB ports and an SD card reader. The keys do not look like they have much, if any, travel but otherwise it looks like a really neat machine (I&#39;m also biased in favor of convertible tablets though... yeah I&#39;m one of &quot;those&quot; geeks hehe). The biggest question in my mind about this tablet is pricing, however. If Dell prices it in like with the similarly spec&#39;d Surface, I think it would sell fairly well. On the other hand, if they go the opposite route and price it at a couple thousand as a premium convertible tablet, I do not see it doing well against ultrabooks and Microsoft&#39;s upcoming Surface.</p>
<p>Finally, Dell showed off an updated version of its 27&quot; All-In-One desktop PC that will come equipped with a touchscreen. As an update to the currently available XPS 27 AIO, the new model will add a touchscreen panel to the 2560x1440 IPS &quot;Wide Quad HD&quot; (whatever that is heh) panel. You can also expect the computer to be powered by third-generation &quot;Ivy Bridge&quot; Core i5 or Core i7 Intel processors, up to 8GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM, and up to 2TB of hard drive storage along with a 32GB <a href="http://pcper.com/ssd">solid state drive</a>. The system will run the x64 version of Windows 8 and you can expect it to cost around (but a bit more than) the current XPS 27 AIO thanks to the addition of the touchscreen input device. For reference, current (non-touchscreen) XPS 27 models range from $1,399.99 to $1,899.99 USD.</p>
<p>I think that Dell is off to a good start with Windows 8 support. Nothing mind-blowing but they still look like interesting additions and updates to the company&#39;s product lineup. The biggest factor in me being personally interested in these machines is the price, and unfortunately Dell has not yet released that bit of information. Dell has stated that they will be available once Windows 8 launches, <a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Windows-8-Going-Sale-October-26-2012">which is October 26th</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>What do you think of Dell&#39;s Windows 8 PC offerings?</em></p>
<p>Dell has made the <a href="http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-08-30-dell-xps-tablet-ultrabook-all-in-one.aspx">full press release</a> available on its website, and you can see more photos of the new Windows 8 XPS computers after the break!</p>
<p><a href="http://pcper.com/category/tags/windows-rt">Read more about ARM-powered Windows 8 RT devices on PC Perspective</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/IFA-Dell-Unveils-Two-XPS-Tablets-One-All-One-System-Running-Windows-RT-and-Windows-8" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.pcper.com/news/Mobile/IFA-Dell-Unveils-Two-XPS-Tablets-One-All-One-System-Running-Windows-RT-and-Windows-8#commentsMobileall-in-oneconvertible tabletdellifatabletultrabookwindows 8windows rtxps 10 tabletxps 12 ultrabookFri, 31 Aug 2012 08:00:10 +0000Tim Verry55254 at http://www.pcper.com